Burial-vault.



P. F. DEER.

BUHIAL VAULT.

PI'LIGATION FILED 1119.17, 1909 Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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P. F. DEHR.

BUBIAL VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17,1908.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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PETER l DEHR, OF HINSDALE, ILLINOIS.

BURIAL-VAULT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Application filed August 1'7, 1908. Serial No. 448,777.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER F. DEHR, a citizen of the United States, residing at I-linsdale, in the county of Dupage and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Burial-Vaults, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to burial vaults, and contemplates an improved construction thereof.

My invention relates particularly to cement formed burial vaults, which fit into graves and which receive the burial casket. In vaults of this kind, metallic reinforcing frames are first constructed and then cement applied, the cover being sealed to the vault body after the burial casket has been placed therein.

My invention involves details of construction and arrangement which will give greater strength and lastin qualities, besides making the vault lig ter. The improved manner in which I seal the cover and body parts together renders the vault absolutely air and water tight.

In the accompanying drawings, my invention is clearly illustrated:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete burial vault; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on plane 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows the reinforcing structure for the vault body; Fig. 4 shows the reinforcin structure for the cover, and Fig. 5 is an en arged sectional view, showing the manner of sealing the cover to the body part.

The body part 1 comprises the metallic reinforcing structure 2, shown in Fig. 3, about which the cement 3 is molded. The cover 4 comprises the reinforcing structure 5, about which cement 6 is molded. The reinforcing structure for the body part is shown in Fig. 3. It comprises the upper and lower rectangular horizontal frames 7 and 8, and the vertical frames 9 and 10, connected together at the inner sections. Vertical connecting members 12 may, if desired, be applied at suitable intervals. The rectangular reinforcing cage thus formed is placed in molds and the cement applied, and these molds may be such as to give any ornamental design.

As shown in Fig. 2, the base of the body part and the sections along the top and hottom of the side walls are thicker than the intervening parts, and the vault can, therefore, be made very light, as all surplus cement not necessary to produce strength can be eliminated. The reinforcing frame for the cover is shown in Fig. 4, and comprises the horizontal rectangular frame 13, connected by the vertical frames 14 and 15. The supporting structure thus formed is placed in suitable molds and the cement applied thereto, and these molds can also be such as to give ornamental design and to cause the cross sections at the various places to be such as to give the proper strength with the least weight. The cover is preferably arched, as shown, to give greater strength and also to act as a water shed.

As shown in Fig. 4, a simple means for providing lifting handles or eyes 16 for the cover is shown. The material of which the reinforcing cages are formed is preferably in the form of round iron rods, and when the vertical frames 14 and 15 are formed, loops are bent therein which form the lift ing handles or eyes 16. These handles may extend above the surface of the cover, or may be below the surface, and the cement cut away a sufiicient distance so that the hand or lifting hooks can be inserted under the handles. The same scheme can be ap plied for the body part. Loops 17 can be ormed in the horlzontal part of the frames 9 and 10, and within the body part, or loops 18 can be formed in the vertical parts of the frames 9 and 10 at the outside of the body part, and these loops can also be within the outer surface of the cement or extend beyond the surface.

In Figs. 2 and 5, the connection between the cover and bed part is shown. After the body part has been molded, and before the cement has set, a rectangular frame of round iron is placed on the upper edge 19 of the body part and squeezed into the cement to form a semi-circular groove 20 in said top edge. After the cement has set, the rectangular frame is removed. Now, when the cover is molded, the mold frames are placed over the body part so that the cover will be molded in its proper position with reference to the body part, this being done mainly for the purpose of having the cement flow into the groove 20. Before the cement for the cover part is poured in, parting powder of any kind is s rinkled over the edge of the body part, an when the cementhow often the cover is removed from the body part, if it is re-applied in the same relative position with respect to the body part, there will always be accurate and intimate en agement between the edges and 1 b t the tongue will always ht intimately 1n the groove. To insure absolute air tightness, I prefer to apply a paste formed of litharge and oil to the engaging surfaces before the cover is applied. This paste will fill every crack and aperture that might be left between the engaging surfaces after the cover is applied, and this paste also quickly hardens. The vault can, if desired, be painted, both on the outside and inside, or given any other finish, either decorative or preservative.

I thus provide a very strong, durable, light, and absolutely air tight and Water and vermin proof burial vault, and I desire to secure the following claims by Letters Patent:

1. In a burial vault of the class described, a reinforcing structure for the body part comprising a lower rectangular horizontal frame of a single piece of metallic rod. an upper rectangular horizontal frame formed of a single piece of metallic rod, a plurality of vertical frames each formed of a single piece of metallic rod and secured to the horizontal frame at the ends thereof, sections of the base parts of the vertical frames being bent to form loops by means of which the structure can be raised, and cement material applied about and embedding said structure.

9. In a burial vault of'the class described,

a lower rectangular horizontal frame formed of a single piece of metallic rod, an upper rectangular horizontal frame formed of a single piece of metallic rod, vertical frames each formed of a single piece of metallic rod and extending vertically and horizontally between the upper and lower horizontal frames and secured thereto, interi'l'iediate strengthening members connecting the upper and lower frames, said frames forming a reinforcing structure, cement molded about and embedding said frame members, said vertical frame members being bent at various parts to form loops by means of which the structure may be carried.

:5. In a burial vault of the class described, the combination of a lower rectangular horizontal frame 8 formed of a single piece of metallic rod, an upper horizontal frame 7 formed of a single piece of metallic rod, vertical frames 9 and 10 secured to the ends of the horizontal frame, intermediate strengthening members 12 secured to the horizontal frames, cement molded about and embedding the frames to form the vault, loops 1? bent in the horizontal part of the vertical frames and extending upwardly above the vault floor, and loops 18 bent in the vertical parts of the vertical frames.

4. In a burial vault of the class described, a horizontal frame formed of a single piece of metallic rod, U-shaped vertical frames each formed of a single piece of metallic rod secured at its ends to the ends of the horizontal frame, cement molded about and embedding the frames to form a rectangular compartment, and loops bent in the vertical frames and projecting beyond the cement, by means of which loops the structure may be lifted.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of July, A. D. 1908.

PETER F. DEHR.

Witnesses LEONARD IV. NOVANDER, JOHN C. MICHAEL. 

